The Daily News. MONDAY. MAY 17, 1920. MUNICIPAL BURDENS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 May 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY. MAY 17, 1920. MUNICIPAL BURDENS.

At the ratepayers' meeting at New Plymouth last week, satisfaction was expressed with the action of the Council in taking ratepayers so fully into its confidence regarding the purposes of the loans, and the operations and prospects of the electrical department. Undoubtedly this new departure on the part of the Council on the occasion of last year's and this year's loan proposals was largely responsible for the thumping big majorities given in their favor. New Plymouth ratepayers have of late years repeatedly proved their progressiveness and enterprise. They have only to be shown a scheme is sound and in the interests of the town, and tUey will support it. Only when they have not been fully informal of a scheme and of the necessity for its adoption have they withheld their sanction. The Council has evidently profited by this knowledge, and now very properly and very wisely take the ratepayers fully into their confidence. The Council has before it some very knotty problems in the near future, and it will require all the co-operation and help that ratepayers can give. The electric light department is assuming very big proportions, tramways extensions must soon be faced, sewerage extensions are looming ahead, many of the water mains must soon be replaced, and considerable extensions made, and further street improvements will have to be undertaken. All the work must grow with the expansion of the town. In a couple of years or more some of the old loans mature, and will have to he renewed. So it will he seen that the Council will have no ' light task, and because of this we would make a suggestion. It is that the Council invite a number of the leading commercial citizens to act in an advisory capacity with it in considering and determining matters of policy. The appointment of such an unofficial committee would in no way derogate from the status of .the Council or its executive officers. It could only strengthen, thenhands and lighten their burden, and prove a great help to the general manager. In the ordinary way the leading commercial men would, perhaps, never occupy a seat on the Council, and their advice and experience would, therefore, be invaluable. Under our suggestion they could render the Council and the Borough invaluable assistance in what we believe will be crucial times, and prove a useful factor in the town's development.